WATCH: Beach remains closed due to shark sightings

Update 4.00pm: MAIN BEACH at Brunswick Heads will remain closed overnight due to sharks reported near the beach.

Surf Life Saving Far North Coast Duty Officer Jimmy Keough said sharks had been spotted in the area late this afternoon and lifeguards and surf lifesavers were about to go off-duty for the evening.

He said they would re-assess the situation when they returned to duty at 9am tomorrow morning.

He said numerous beaches at Byron Bay had been closed throughout the day due to balls of baitfish and sharks. He said they continued to monitor the baitfish, but there was no immediate shark threat.

Mr Keough urged anyone entering the water heed the direction of lifeguards and lifesavers, and to obey warning signs on beaches.

Update 12.53pm: SINCE 7am this morning the Department of Primary Industries aerial surveillance team have reported sightings of numerous sharks close to shore at North Coast beaches.

White sharks, bull sharks, common tip sharks and whaler sharks have been spotted chasing large balls of bait fish moving along the coast line.

Beaches have been sporadically closed as deemed necessary by surf lifesavers, lifeguards and the DPI.

Beaches where sharks have been sighted this morning include:

Backside Surfbreak, Ballina

Seven Mile Beach, Lennox Head

Cosy Corner, Tallow Beach

Wategos

Belongil Beach

Tyagarah

Brunswick Heads

New Brighton

Crabbes Creek

Wooyung

Black Rocks reef

Pottsville

Hastings Point

Cudgera

Mooball

The situation is constantly changing however, Surf Life Saving Far North Coast Duty Officer Jimmy Keough said it was important members of the public obeyed direction of the lifeguards and lifesavers, and paid heed to warning signs and placards placed on beaches - there are sharks out there and they are feeding.

Original story 12.21pm: BEACHES from South Ballina to Pottsville have been closed following sightings of a "large number of sharks" chasing balls of bait fish close to shore.

Mr Keough said remote beaches were also under surveillance in conjunction with the DPI.

He said it was important members of the public obeyed direction of the lifeguards and lifesavers, and paid heed to warning signs and placards placed on beaches - there are sharks out there and they are feeding.